Gaming
Miniclip’s 8 Ball Pool marks decade since launch as monthly match count hits 1.6 billion
Miniclip, the digital gaming leader and developer of market-defining mobile game titles, is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the launch of its 8 Ball Pool game – the biggest online pool game in the world.
To mark the occasion, Miniclip is releasing the ‘Bismuth’ cue, named after the Bismuth Stone, a rare mineral known for its ability to transform and change appearance. The Bismuth will be 8 Ball Pool’s first ever animated and evolving cue – a unique touch for players who will witness changes with each cue upgrade.
Miniclip will also be launching a month of activities and rewards, with quests for players to complete, the 10-year themed Season Pass, unique minigames and live events. Giveaways, rewards and even celebrity appearances will also be involved during the celebrations.
Miniclip President Rob Small commented: “8 Ball Pool has been a pillar of Miniclip’s success and has evolved into much more than a simple pool game. With several modes, clubs, leagues, leaderboards, live events and a Trophy Road, we’ve given players new and exciting ways to enjoy their time online. We look forward to announcing more new features as part of the anniversary celebrations and to continue bringing players together for many more years to come.”
8 Ball Pool has not slowed down on its promise to bring Pool Players together from all over the world with around 100 Million friends made within the game every single month and around 550 million gifts sent between them! With the growing number of 8 Ball Pool players each year, Miniclip looks forward to hosting more matches and keep adding to the 115 billion matches that have been played just in the last 3 years.
Every month, 8 Ball Pool racks up:
• 15 billion minutes of in-game play time – That’s 261 million hours, or around 29,000 years!
• 1.6 billion matches
• 19 billion shots
• 15 billion balls potted
• 549 million gifts sent between players
In the last three years, 8 Pool Ball has seen:
• Over 1.5 trillion minutes spent in game
• That’s 24 billion hours, or around 2 million years
• 115 billion matches played
Ranked as Miniclip’s number one game, 8 Ball Pool offers free content and can be played from any computer device and runs in any ordinary flash-enabled browser fluently. The game hosts over 10 million players from all around the world every single day.
Miniclip is also celebrating its own 20th anniversary. Co-founder and now President Rob Small launched Miniclip.com in 2001 at the age of 24 with a dream to build a next generation game entertainment company. Today, Miniclip offers over 60 high-quality titles across more than 195 countries, generating two billion downloads and over 50 million active daily players.
Powered by WPeMatico
Brazil
EGT to showcase its gaming portfolio for Brazil at SiGMA Americas 2026
Following a strong showing at SBC Summit Rio earlier this month, EGT is set to present its Brazil-focused portfolio once again at BiS SiGMA South America 2026, taking place in São Paulo from April 7–9. Visitors can explore the company’s latest solutions and partnership opportunities at stand L146.
“Don’t miss the chance to experience our products firsthand and discover how we can work together,” said Celina Guedes, Regional Director Brazil at EGT.
Advanced Land-Based Solutions
A key highlight will be EGT’s Super Sorte Video Lottery Terminals. The range includes the slant-top Super Sorte 27/27 ST, featuring dual 27-inch full-HD touchscreens with 4K UHD resolution, and the vertical Super Sorte 43V, equipped with a single 43-inch curved display. Both models are designed to deliver an immersive, next-generation gaming experience.
Also on display will be EGT’s latest online betting terminals, Top Estrela and Bar Estrela. The Top Estrela unit features a sleek 24-inch portrait touchscreen, while Bar Estrela offers a compact solution ideal for bars and smaller venues. Both are supported by an intuitive platform that ensures smooth navigation and secure access to a broad content library.
All terminals will feature the Gold VLT multigame package, offering 50 titles across diverse themes. This includes popular classics such as Amazons’ Battle and Rise of Ra, fruit-themed favourites like Burning Hot, and regionally popular games such as Keno Universe.
Expanding Digital Capabilities
EGT Digital will also present its growing iGaming portfolio, including more than 180 in-house slot titles. Among the highlights are established jackpot series such as Bell Link, Clover Chance, and Gods & Kings Link, alongside newer releases like Panda Ventura, which has quickly gained traction with players thanks to its distinctive style and engaging gameplay. The title also marks the beginning of a new character-driven series, with Tiger Ventura set to follow.
In addition, the company will demonstrate its modular X-Nave platform, which integrates casino, CRM, payment gateway, bonus management, and an aggregator offering over 20,000 games from 200+ providers. The platform also includes a high-performance sportsbook with flexible integration and advanced personalisation features, supported by AI-driven tools that enhance engagement and automate key processes.
Strengthening Regional Partnerships
“Our main goal at BiS SiGMA South America is to strengthen strategic partnerships with operators, platforms, and stakeholders shaping Brazil’s regulated market,” Guedes added. “It’s also an opportunity to showcase our full technology and content ecosystem, supporting both online growth and potential future land-based developments such as VLT operations. Ultimately, we’re focused on building long-term relationships and positioning EGT as a trusted partner across Brazil and Latin America.”
The post EGT to showcase its gaming portfolio for Brazil at SiGMA Americas 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Gaming
Soft2Bet launches MEGA Islands, a new gamification engine designed to increase player retention
Soft2Bet has unveiled MEGA Islands, the latest addition to its MEGA Suite, designed to enhance player engagement and retention across both casino and sportsbook offerings.
The new engine introduces a persistent progression system that carries over across sessions, giving players an ongoing reason to return. Through island-building, resource collection, and continual advancement, players embark on a long-term journey that transforms short play sessions into sustained engagement.
First previewed in Soft2Bet’s recent Lodur release, the MEGA Islands system allows players to develop their own islands over time. Resources earned through gameplay can be used to construct new buildings, upgrade existing structures, and unlock further stages of progression. Each upgrade opens new goals, creating a loop of continuous advancement that keeps players invested.
The engine also incorporates plundering mechanics, giving players an additional path to gather resources by raiding other islands. This feature not only accelerates growth but also maintains a dynamic and engaging progression loop. With no fixed endpoint, MEGA Islands is built to encourage repeat play through a satisfying cycle of building, collecting, and advancing.
“MEGA Islands is designed to make retention feel natural by providing players with a progression journey they want to return to,” said Yoel Zuckerberg, CPO at Soft2Bet. “By building islands, collecting resources, and unlocking upgrades—including through plundering—each session becomes part of a longer experience. It gives players a clear reason to come back while providing operators with a retention tool that integrates seamlessly across casino and sportsbook.”
The launch of MEGA Islands underscores Soft2Bet’s commitment to gamification as a driver of long-term growth. As part of the MEGA Suite, the new engine offers operators a powerful tool to extend player journeys, increase engagement cycles, and deliver consistent value in competitive markets.
The post Soft2Bet launches MEGA Islands, a new gamification engine designed to increase player retention appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Arcade
Pragmatic Play Elevates Arcade Roster with the Im-Peck-Able Chicken+
Pragmatic Play, a prominent content provider for the iGaming sector, has enhanced its arcade collection with the debut of Chicken+, a retro-themed game showcasing fast-paced action and significant winning opportunities.
Brought to existence with retro 8-bit visuals, the game tests players to evade approaching vehicles and various dangers, leading the chicken safely over the road.
With each lane successfully cleared, the win multiplier increases. Players can withdraw their earnings whenever they choose or try to navigate all lanes for the top reward, but a single random mishap concludes the round as a defeat. Players are able to view the possible winnings and the likelihood of success in reaching each lane to aid in their decision-making.
There are four levels of risk – Easy, Mid, Hard, and Daredevil. Raising the level reduces the number of lanes per round and increases the volatility, enhancing the maximum win potential from 24x in Easy mode to over 3,000,000x in Daredevil.
Blending nostalgic visuals with an eccentric theme, a user-friendly interface, and rapid betting rounds, Chicken+ meets the increasing demand for engaging, fast-paced games.
The title signifies the newest entry in Pragmatic Play’s continually growing arcade collection, succeeding the launches of Plinko+, Spire+, and Mines+.
Sharon McHugh, Director of Public Relations at Pragmatic Play, said: “Chicken+ blends retro charm with simple, high-engagement mechanics. With configurable risk levels and significant win potential, it stands out as another compelling addition to Pragmatic Play’s diverse arcade portfolio, inviting players to test their nerve and cross the road.”
The post Pragmatic Play Elevates Arcade Roster with the Im-Peck-Able Chicken+ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
bingo5 days ago -
Africa7 days agoVirgin Bet goes live in South Africa
-
Charity Space Scotland7 days agoScottish Government Announces £7.9M Investment to Tackle Gambling Harms
-
BetMGM6 days agoPA Gaming Control Board Imposes $100,000 Fine on BetMGM
-
ELA Games6 days ago2026 SiGMA Americas Awards Features ELA Games in Two Major Categories
-
apuestas6 days agoBrasil 2026: Bets presionan el presupuesto de los hogares y redefinen la competencia por el consumo
-
Compliance Updates7 days agoPeter Knutsson Becomes New Director General of Swedish Gambling Authority
-
Eilers & Krejcik – Fantini Game Performance Report6 days agoZitro Remains Latin America’s Top-Performing Supplier in the Eilers & Krejcik – Fantini Report



